The Evolution Of The Harley
The Harley Davidson Company officially commenced with the completion of its first bike in 1903. Unofficially it all began in 1901 when 21-year-old William S. Harley drew up plans for a tiny engine that displaced 7.07 cubic inches and had 4-inch flywheels.
By 1903 William Harley had joined with his boyhood buddy Arthur Davidson, as well as Arthur’s bro Walter. They utilised the machine shop of their friend Henry Melk to finish the prototype of their first engine-powered bike. The engine that powered this prototype was not quite powerful enough to launch the motored-bike up Milwaukee’s modest hills without the rider resorting to pedal power.
The first “real” Harley Davidson bike was ultimately finished with further help from another Davidson brother named William. It had a bigger engine of 24.74 cubic inches with 9-3 / four in. flywheels weighing 28 pounds. The new bike was functional by Sep 08, 1904, and made its first appearance in a Milwaukee motorcycle race.
The first Harley Davidson Motor Company factory was built in 1906 on Chestnut Street. It was a modest forty by sixty foot single story wooden structure. Chestnut Street was later renamed Juneau Avenue, and though the first structure was replaced, this location remains the Motor Company’s company headquarters to this day. A total of fifty motorcycles were produced in 1906.
The following year, 1907 led to much change for the fledgling company. William S. Harley graduated from the school of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in mechanical engineering. The factory was expanded and the company officially incorporated. Production increased to 150 motorbikes in 1907.
Success continued in the years that followed. The original factory was demolished and replaced by a new 5-story structure of fortified concrete and red brick. It soon grew to take up 2 blocks along Juneau Avenue and round the corner on 38th Street. During this period bikes produced by Harley Davidson started to rule the motorcycle racing arena and production reached 16,284 in 1914.
World War I saw the clamor for motorbikes in the military. Harley Davidson provided over twenty thousand bikes to army forces during World War I. Enhancements and increased production continued after the war. The Harley Davidson Motor Company was actually one of just two American cycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression. The company continued to supply machines for the military through WWII and the Korean War. The Jeep then replaced it in renown.
The Harley Davidson Motor Company is still going robust today, regardless of bumps and bruises on the way. You may recognize it on the stock exchange under the symbol HOG.
Next, here are some pieces you will really want to find out about Actron Autoscanner which you can access via the main website here at Actron Scanners site.
